ANGEL FACE ➵ DARYL DIXON [2]

Chapter Ten: This Is Now

Chapter 10

"AND SUDDENLY THE NIGHTMARES DIDN'T KEEP US UP. IT WAS THE DAYDREAMS."

***

"Today is the day of reckoing, sir!" The leader says loudly, Kai keeping his breathing under control.

He slips his hand into Girl's, her grateful for the human contact. She accidentally gasps, giving a small squeeze as if to say I'm okay or we'll be alright. Kai squeezes back, and holds it tight, his wedding ring on his shaking finger reminding him of simpler times and days.

"Right! Who's gonna count down the ball dropper with me, huh?" He begins counting down, "nine Mississippi."

Clementine yelps out, but immediately stays still from the fright of the knife. Girl looks her way, mouthing, it's okay. Her chest dramatically aches when she did that, as if her body was saying, why did you just lie to a child? And punishing her. A tear slips down her face, closing her eyes and wanting her ears to do the same.

"Eight Mississippi," the man counts, Kai feeling the gun press more and more in.

Girl's hand starts to shake inside Kai's, and she doesn't know if he's doing the same. Her throat clogs, her bones turn to splinters, only a few minutes until they snap.

In this case, seconds.

"Seven Mississippi."

His voice has gotten quiet, but maybe it's all in Kai's head. He wishes his heart would be as quiet.

"...Six Mississippi..."

Disorientated; a ghost's whisper.

"...Five--"

"JOE!"

The booming voice sends all heads behind the car, another man coming out from the shadows and into the smokey, dimly lited area. He's holding a crossbow, as all the other men do, but his voice is more inviting, more scared and more brittled like melted sugar.

As he comes closer, even though they might die any second, it can't stop the relief and pleasing pain Kai feels in this very moment. He even smiles to him, giving Girl the tightest squeeze yet.

Clementine flinches from shock, absorbing the image of a man she thought for the longest time was long gone.

Daryl's face falls, not even knowing it was them. But hell is he glad. He doesn't recognize the girl Kai has held in his left hand, but if she's with him, she's apart of the group. He quickly looks over to Clementine, the way the man has her held like she was a danger lurking in the night and he has captured her. He suddenly pounces in like a jaguar, getting protective and sensitive of them all. Yet his spirit is like a warrior ready to attack.

"Hol' up," Daryl orders, walking into the middle so he's standing in front of Joe.

"You're stopping me at five, Daryl," Joe responds in annoyance, Kai wondering why Daryl would join these people.